OdishaPlus Bureau
The State Government on Monday decided to bring a scheme– Ekamra Kshetra Amenities and Monuments Revival Action Plan- EKAMRA Plan to provide succor to the people affected due to renovation plan around the Lingaraj Temple in the State Capital.
Under the scheme, interventions would be taken up In the Heritage District Area as notified in Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) – 2010 of Bhubaneswar, with the objectives of reviving and preserving the heritage value and grandeur of Lingaraj temple and its surroundings, enhance the living heritage, continuous traditions and a complete timeline of Kalinga architectural developments through strategic interventions, protect and strengthen the linkages between the area’s natural and built heritage assets, highlight the experiential value of the place for pilgrims, tourists, and residents.
As part of this plan, in Phase 1, interventions would be taken up in the core area surrounding Lingaraj Temple and Bindu Sagar.This project area of about more than 65 Acres will be pedestrianized and facilities for pilgrims and tourist will be created, the release said and added, to implement the projects identified in Phase 1, certain land need to be acquired and encroachment is to be removed.
To facilitate same, a rehabilitation and resettlement policy is formulated which is project-specific and shall be applicable to provide R&R assistance to the affected persons/institutions of the notified projects taken up under this plan.
As per the policy, all the residential units having a clear title of the land would be acquired through direct purchase method prescribed by the Government of Odisha and the compensation shall be paid as per provision of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The policy envisages there shall be an option to provide land instead of compensation amount having an equal market value of the land to be acquired provided that the sizes of the alternate land shall be of standard sizes and compensation of balance land component shall be adjusted in monetary assistance as per guidelines.
As immediate assistance, relocation allowance Rs 1,00,000 per family shall be given towards expenses related to transportation and immediate arrangement, each family shall be provided with Rs. 15,000 per month as rental allowance for a period of 12 months from the date of acquisition of property and every residential unit owner shall be paid Rs.20,00,000 as a one-time resettlement allowance.
The commercial units having clear title of the land would be acquired through direct purchase method as prescribed by the State Government, the release said adding, the compensation amount shall be paid as per provision of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
As immediate assistance, a relation allowance of Rs. 1.00,000 per unit towards expense related to transportation and immediate arrangement shall be given to the owner.
A rental assistance of Rs 15,000 and Rs. 20,000 per month shall be provided for shops having an area less than or equal to 200 square feet and more than 200 square foot respectively from the date of acquisition of property till handing over of a shop unit, the release said.
As per resettlement scheme, shop unit shall be provided, depending upon availability, at 50 percent of the offset price (market value) while the balance of 50 percent of the shop unit cost shall be subsidized by the State Government.
In the second option, every shop unit will be eligible for allotment of a new shop unit in the market complex (es) to be developed for the purpose of payment of 50% of the offset price while in the third option, the shop unit owner shall be provided with one-time the settlement amount of Rs. 20,00,000.
Towards rehabilitation of street vendors, all the project affected street vendors shall be provided with one-time rehabilitation assistance of Rs.30,000 in two installments.
In the plan for street vending, the vending plan will be prepared as per provisions of the relevant act and rules. The affected street vendors will be allocated space for carrying out their vending activities, the release added.Towards assistance for government offices and institution, a committee shall be formed under the chairmanship of Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner to finalize the assistance to be provided to the public institutions which may have to be relocated for implementation of the plan.
For mutts, the Commissioner, in consultation with Collector Khurda and other stakeholders will decide the rehabilitation and resettlement the scheme, including allotment of land and preservation/conservation of activities etc.
Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Division) would be the competent authority to approve the same, the release said and added, the redevelopment plan of each of the Mutts will indicate the usage of various components /parts/rooms and the same shall be put to use.
This policy will be Implemented by Commissioner, BMC in consultation with Collector, Khurda.BMC Commissioner will take all necessary approvals from Collector Khurda and other authorities as required by state Government guidelines of direct purchase of properties, the release said.
